This is an exceptional example of an early U.S. Army M1903 Springfield leather rifle sling, dated 1904, manufactured at Rock Island Arsenal and marked “ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL 1904 T.C.C.” This sling represents the very first year of M1903 production and predates the .30-06 conversion, making it historically tied to the earliest .30-03 rifles issued by the U.S. military. Constructed of thick russet leather, the sling features brass hooks and multiple adjustment holes, correct for the early configuration used on pre-WWI M1903 rifles. The leather remains supple with expected age-related wear, including minor surface cracking and patina to the hardware, but it is structurally sound and very well preserved for its age. This piece comes from the Canfield Collection, known for its rigorously curated and historically significant U.S. military items. Original, unit-marked and dated slings from 1904 are exceedingly rare, especially those tied to Rock Island Arsenal's initial output. This is a top-tier collectible accessory that would complete an early Springfield display or stand alone as an important piece of U.S. ordnance history.